Apparatus for positioning a web

ABSTRACT

1,101,558. Packaging machines. HÍFLIGER and KARG O.H.G. 1 July, 1966 [9 July, 1965], No. 29706/66. Heading B8C. [Also in Division B6] Non-registration of a web having been detected by a photo-electric checking and control device 22, longitudinal register is achieved by a pair of rollers 8, 16, one of which has in its peripheral surface a plurality of equidistant groove-like recesses extending parallel to the roller axis, while the other has ribshaped projections spaced at the same distance as the grooves and is adjustable so as to permit the depth of entry of the projections into the recesses to be varied. The above registering mechanism is applied to the pre-marked or preprinted cover web 14 of a packaging process wherein a plastics web 12 from a supply-roll 10 is first embossed with a series of cup-shaped recesses 5 which are filled with tablets (4, Fig. 1) at a filling station 13. The cover web 14 is applied to the filled strip 12 passing over a longitudinal grooved roller 24, by the roller 16 which is heated and provided with a plurality of suction channels (7, Fig. 2). Longitudinal register is checked by photo-electric device 22, and connection made, if required, by adjustment of the roller 8 relative to the roller 16. The composite strip then passes over a compensating roller 25 and guide roller 26 to a cutting station 27 where individual sections 19 are punched out. The remainder of the composite strip is cut into sections by cutters 30.

Nov. 19,1968 T. MOSER ET AL.

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A WEB 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1966 MM1% O' MM! 1 14% Nov. 19, 1968 MOSER ET AL APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING AWEB Filed July 11, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheei 2 NOV. 19, 1968 os ET ALAPPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A WEB 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 11. 1966Nov. 19, 1968 os ET AL 3,411,767

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A WEB Filed July 11. 1966 4 Sheets-Shem 4Motor 710 V 60CY United States Patent ,539 15 Claims. (Cl. 270-53ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Marks on a transported web are sensed, andsignals produced controlling the forming of larger or smaller folds inthe web so that web sections can be accurately placed on anothertransported web.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for positioning a webhaving uniformly spaced marked sections, and more particularly to apacking apparatus for applying picture carrying sections of a continuousweb in a correct position to packages formed in another web.

Apparatus is known in which a web having depressed portions filled withmerchandise, such as candies, has to be provided with a closing cover,whereupon the web is cut into packages. The covers are part of acontinuous web, and if each of the covers is to carry a picture, it isnecessary to position the cover web in a very precise position to avoida displacement of the picture on the finished package, or the cutting ofpictures. A relative displacement between the web having the pictures,and the web forming the packages, takes place due to irregularities inthe web materials which, particularly if thermoplastic sheets are used,are differently stretched. Furthermore, slipping of the web takes placeon the transporting rollers.

In order to avoid a displacement of the cover pictures, it has beenproposed to provide the webs with marks which are uniformly spaced fromeach other distances corresponding to the size of the finished package.A photoelectric sensing device senses the marks, and in the event thatthe advance of the web is insufficient, additional mechanism is'startedwhich causes a feeding of the web to the desired extent.

In one construction according to the prior art, the web is guided over aroller which is located between and below two guide rollers and mountedon a lever. The web forms a U-shaped loop, and the lever is controlledin such a manner that the same moves the control roller upwards towardthe guide rollers to reduce the size of the loop if the advance movementof the web is insufficient. Since the lower portion of the web loop isthus released, the transporting means of the web can transport anadditional web portion so that the difference is compensated and asufficient length of. web is supplied. Such a device is only capable ofsupplying an additional or greater length of the web, if the length ofthe supplied web section is insufficient, but it is not adapted toreduce the length of the supplied web if a greater length of web issupplied than is required by the packages. Furthermore, the web supplycannot be accurately controlled due to a freely suspended web loop.

- It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages ofknown apparatus for transporting and positioning a web, and to providean apparatus which permits an adjustment of the supplied length of webto provide a greater length of the web, or a shorter length of the web,as required.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for transporting andpositioning a web having marked sections, for example sections providedwith pictures, to an- 3,411,767 Patented Nov. 19, 1968 other web formingexactly spaced packages, in such a manner that each package is closed bythe web section carrying a picture without relative displacement betweenthe pictures and the packages. 1

With these objects in view, an apparatus according to the presentinvention comprises a first roller having circumferentially spacedperipheral recesses; a second roller having circumferentially spacedprojections disposed to cooperate with the recesses, respectively,during rotation of the first and second rollers so that each projectionenters the corresponding recess in the region of the bight of therollers; supply means, for example a let-off reel, for supplying a webhaving uniformly spaced marked sections, for example printed pictures ora printed text, to the bight between the first and second rollers sothat a web portion is located between one projection and the respectiverecess in the region of the bight whereby a fold is formed of the webportion in the respective recess; supporting means, such as a shaft anda guide means for the shaft, supporting the second roller for movementtoward and away from the first roller; sensing means, preferablyincluding a photoelectric cell, for sensing the marked sections, whichmay have additional sensing marks; and adjusting means, preferablyincluding a reversible electric motor and transmission means connectedwith the shaft, and being controlled by the sensing means for moving thesecond rollers toward and away from the first roller so that oneprojection enters more or less deeply into the respective recess in theregion of the bight of the rollers, whereby the size of the fold isvaried for adjusting the position of the marked sections which aredelivered by the first roller to a third roller and a web having packagesections transported by the first and third rollers. Since the marked orpicture sections of the web are accurately spaced, each marked sectionis applied to a package section of the other web, and preferably sealedto the same by heating means in the first roller which are capable ofsealing the thermoplastic material of the web.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and-its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompa'nying drawings, inwhich: I

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic side view illustrating an apparatusaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic side view illustrating a portion ofFIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating a section of the web; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic side view illustrating a machineincorporating the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3, atransporting roller 16 has four peripheral circumferentially uniformlyspaced recesses having a triangular or trapezoid uniform cross sectionand extending along the axial length of roller 16.

A supply reel 15 supplies a web 14 to roller 16 which is driven totransport the web to the bight between roller 16 and another roller 24.Rollers 16 and 24 not only transport web 14, but also a web 12 which hasdepressions or pockets 5 filled with merchandise, for example candies 4.In the bight between rollers 16 and 24, the packages 19 formed by thepocket 5 enter recesses 23 in the peripheral surface of roller 24 andare transported by the same. Roller 1 6 is provided with electricheating means which receive current through slide rings, not shown, andthe marked the electric circuit of 3 heating means act on thethermoplastic material of webs 14 and 12 to seal web 14 to web 12whereby the pockets 5 are closed and form packages 19 which areseparated from each other by cutting of the attached webs 14 and 12between the packages.

The depressed pockets 5 are provided on web 12 in series of five, andeach series is separated from the other by a Web portion which is longerthan the connecting web portions of web 12 between adjacent depressedpockets 5 of the same series. The length of a section of web 12corresponding to a series of depressed pockets 5, corresponds to thelength of web 14 between two adjacent recesses 17 on roller 16.Therefore, a portion of web 14 located in a recess will be locatedopposite a connecting portion of web 12 between two series of depressedpockets 5.

Roller 16 cooperates with a second roller 8 provided with peripheralaxially extending 'circumferentially spaced projections or ribs 9 whichrespectively cooperate with recesses 17. During the synchronous rotationof rollers 8 and 16, which is obtained by meshing gears, not shown, theprojection 9 passing through the bight between rollers 8 and 16 entersinto a corresponding recess 17, and then moves out of the same again.

As best seen in FIG. 2, rollers 8 and 16 have a normal operatingposition shown in FIG. 2 in which the axes of rollers 8 and 16 arespaced such a distance that the projections 9 in the bight of therollers enters into the corresponding recess about halfway between thebottom of the recess and the peripheral opening of the recess 17, thetotal radial depth of the recess being s.

Web 14 has successive pictures which are to form covers of the packages19, and also marks 20 spaced from each other distances corresponding toa series of pictures, the number of the series of pictures correspondingto the number of pockets 5 in the series of pockets of web 12.

In the normal position of rollers 8 and 16, a fold 29 of average sizewill be formed by the projection 9 entering the recess 17, and suchfolds will be located opposite the connecting portions of web 12 afterattachment of the cover web 14 of the package 12.

Roller 8 is mounted on a shaft which is supported in bearings having athreaded bore into which a threaded spindle projects. The threadedspindle is rotated by an electric motor 21 which can be reversed so thatroller 8 with its shaft is moved by motor 21 either toward roller 16, oraway from the same, according to the control of the motor circuit.

If roller 8 is moved toward roller 16, projection 9 between the tworollers Will enter more deeply into the corresponding recess, and willform a greater fold drawing a piece of the web 14 from the web portionbetween supply reel 15 and roller 16. If roller 8 is moved away fromroller 16 by the reversed motor 21, projection 9 will move outward inrecess 17, and will form a smaller fold thus taking up a lesser lengthof the web 14. In this manner, an extension as well as a shortening ofsections of web 14 and adjustment of the position of the pictures andmarks 20 can be obtained. In order to prevent that the formed fold ispulled straight as soon as projection 9 moves out of recess 17, roller16 has radial suction channels 7 opening on the peripheral surface ofroller 16 on opposite sides of recess 17, and suction channels 7 areconnected with conduits 6 and stationary conduit 30 by which suction isapplied to suction channels 7 which are covered by web 14. The portionson opposite sides of the fold of the web are sucked onto the peripheralsurface of roller 14 so that substantial friction develops between theweb and the peripheral surface of roller 16 to hold the web on roller 16in the adjusted position. A stationary venting conduit 31 communicateswith channels 6, 7 to relieve the suction when the webs 12 and 14 arebounded.

A photoelectric sensing means 22 is provided for sensing marks 20 on web14 in the region between the supply reel 15 and transporting roller 16,as also shown in FIG. 4. Mark 20 is illuminated by a sou ce of igh nd inthis manner, an impulse is created in a photocell which cooperates witha mechanical contact device 32-35 in such a manner that if a contact isestablished at the same time as a sensing impulse is produced by thephotocell, the motor 21 of the adjusting means of roller 8 is notenergized. The reversal or nonreversal of motor 21 depends on whetherfirst the sensing signal was given, or the contact made by the contactdevice. The contact device has a conductive cylinder 33 with an insert32 of an insulating material and slide contacts 34, 35. When bothcontacts engage the grounded cylinder 33 the system is grounded andmotor 21 is not energized when a signal is supplied by sensing means 22to amplifier and control device 36. If a contact, for example 34, isgrounded and the other contact located on the insulating insert 32 whenthe sensing signal arrives at the control device 36, switch 36 is closedand motor 21 rotates in forward direction. If contact 34 is located oninsert 32 and contact 35 grounded, switch 37 is closed, and motor 21 isreversed and rotates in the opposite direction. If the portion of web 14between supply reel 15 and projection 9 is incorrectly placed, a mark 20will be sensed too early or too late so that only one contact 34 or 35will be grounded, and motor 21 started to move projection 9 into or outof a groove 17.

Referring now mainly to FIG. 4, the web 12 is supplied from a supplyreel 10 and guided over a molding roller 11 in which the pockets 5 areformed in groups of five separated by a somewhat longer web portion. Web12 is moved to a filling station at which candies 4 are filled intopockets 5 whereupon Web 12 travels along a supporting table to the bightbetween roller 16 and roller 24.

As explained above, the cover web 14 which has marked sections withpictures or text which fit onto the pockets 5, is supplied from a supplyreel 15 and guided over rollers 16 through the bight between rollers 8and 16 and then to the bight between rollers 16 and 24. Heating means inroller 16 are energized in the region of roller 24 so that thethermoplastic foils of webs 14 and 12 are sealed and attached to eachother.

The attached webs are transported by transporting rollers 27, and areheld in a tensioned position by a suspended roller 25 and a guide roller25a. A series of packages 19 is cut out by dies 26, and the remainder ofthe webs is cut to pieces by cutting means 28.

. Assuming that the length of the marked sections on web 14 correspondexactly to the length of the sections of web 12 to be covered, noadjustment is necessary. However, if a marked section of web 14 isdisplaced relative to the pockets 5 of web 14, the printed picture willnot appear completely on each package, but the webs may be attached in aposition in which parts of the pictures on web 14 are located on twopockets 5 so that no package will receive a complete picture.

If web 14 is displaced in this manner, its marks 20 are also displaced,and the impulses produced by marks 20 in the sensing means 22 will nolonger coincide with the uniformly spaced signals produced by themechanical contact device 32-34, and adjusting motor 21 will be actuatedto move roller 8 toward roller 16, or away from the same, depending onthe direction of the displacement of the cover web 14. The adjustment ofroller 8 causes the respective projection 9 to enter more deeply intothe corresponding recess 17, or move outward in the same so that a webportion is pressed more deeply into recess 17, or less deeply than inthe normal position of the projection. Larger or smaller folds,respectively, are formed in this manner.

The adjustment of roller 9 is carried out depending on the position ofthe marks 20 on Web 14 by means of the photoelectric sensing device 22.If coincidence between the signals produced by the mechanical contactdevice 32-34 with the sensing signals exists no adjustment is necessary.However, if contact closure of the mechanical contact device and thesensing signal do not coincide, motor 21 is energized and adjusts theposition of roller 9. Depending on whether the time displacement istrailing or leading, roller 8 is moved away from, or toward roller 16 toreduce or increase the size of the fold 29 in recess 17 resulting in alengthening or shortening of the respective web section of web 14.

The entire relative displacement between the webs can be corrected inthis manner by a movement of roller 8 toward or away from roller 16. Ifgreat forces are involved and the inertia of the adjusted elements hasto be considered, the adjustment may be carried out stepwise, and thesize of the fold gradually increased or reduced.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofapparatus for transporting webs differing from the types describedabove.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in anapparatus for adjusting the position of a web having marked sectionsbefore the web is attached to packages, it is not intended to be limitedto the details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for positioning a web, comprising, in combination, afirst roller having circumferentially spaced peripheral recesses; asecond roller having circumferentially spaced projections disposed tocooperate with said recesses, respectively, during rotation of saidfirst and second rollers so that each projection enters thec0rrespending recess in the region of the bight of said rollers; supplymeans for supplying a web having uniformly spaced marked sections to thebight between said first and second rollers so that a web portion islocated between one projection and the respective recess whereby a foldis formed of said web portion in the respective recess; supporting meansrotatably supporting said second roller for movement toward and awayfrom said first roller; sensing means for sensing said marked sections;and adjusting means controlled by said sensing means for moving saidsupporting means with said second roller toward and away from said firstroller so that said one projection enters more or less deeply into therespective recess and the size of the formed fold is varied foradjusting the position of said marked sections.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing meansincludes a photo cell producing an impulse when sensing a markedsection; and wherein said adjusting means includes a reversible motor,transmission means connecting said motor with said supporting means, andmeans controlled by said impulses to start, stop, and reverse saidmotor.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first roller hassuction channels opening on the periphery thereof adjacent each recess;and including means for applying suction to said suction channels atleast in the region of the periphery of said first roller where said webis located so that said web is sucked onto the periphery of said firstroller.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, and including a third rollercooperating with said first roller and adapted to transport a second webso that said first web is applied to said second web with said markedsections in a predetermined position in relation to said second web.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first roller includesheating means for sealing said webs to each other.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and secondrollers and said projections and recesses are disposed in such a mannerthat said one projection enters the respective recess and forms a foldwhen said sensing means senses marked sections in the correct position,and wherein said adjusting means move said second roller awayfrom saidfirst roller so that said one projection forms a smaller fold in therespective recess if said marked sections deviate from the correctposition in one direction, and wherein said adjusting means move saidsecond roller toward said first roller so that said one projection formsa larger fold in the respective section if said marked sections deviatefrom the correct position in the opposite direction.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recesses have asubstantially greater peripheral width than said projections.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means arelocated between said supply means and said rollers.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing meansincludes photo electric means producing a signal for each sensed markedsection of said web, a mechanical contact device having contacts closingat uniformly timed intervals, and means receiving said signal and beingresponsive to non-coincidence of the same with closure of said contactsto actuate said adjusting means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting meansinclude a shaft, and bearings for said shaft; and wherein said adjustingmeans include threaded means connected with said bearings, and areversible motor for operating said threaded means.

11. An apparatus for positioning a web, comprising, in combination, afirst roller having peripheral recesses spaced in circumferentialdirection; a second roller having peripheral fixed projections spaced ina circumferential direction and disposed to cooperate, respectively,with said recesses during rotation of said first and second roller sothat each projection enters a corresponding recess in the region of thebight of said first and second rollers; supply means for supplying a webhaving spaced marked sections to the bight between said first and secondrollers so that a web portion is located between one projection and therespective recess whereby a fold of said web is formed of said webportion in the respective recess; first supporting means for rotatablysupporting said first roller; second supporting means for rotatablysupporting said second roller, one of said first and second supportingmeans being stationary and the other supporting means being movable formoving the respective roller toward and away from the respective otherroller for varying the depth at which said one projection is located insaid recess, and adjusting means for moving said other supporting meanswith the respective roller toward and away from the roller on said onesupporting means so that said one projection projects more or lessdeeply into the respective recess and the size of the fold formed insaid recess is varied for adjusting the position of said markedsections.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first roller hassuction channels opening on the periphery thereof adjacent each recess;and comprising means for applying suction to said suction channels atleast in the region of said bight of said first and second rollers sothat said web is held on the periphery of said first roller adjacentsaid recess so as to maintain the size and position of the newly formedfold.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first supporting meansis stationary and said second supporting means is movable toward andaway from said first supporting means so that said second roller ismovable toward and away from said first roller whereby the position ofsaid projection in said recess is varied.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first roller has pairsof suction channels opening on the periphery thereof on opposite sidesof and adjacent each recess; and comprising means for applying suctionto said pairs of said suction channels at least in the region of saidbight of said first and second rollers so that said web is held on theperiphery of said first roller adjacent said recess so as to maintainthe size and position of the newly formed fold.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and comprising a third rollercooperating with said first roller and adapted to support a second webso that said first web is applied to said second web with said markedsections in a predetermined position in relation to said second web.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,186,018 6/1916 Meisel 270692,483,155 9/1949 Salfisberg 53-51 3,140,573 7/1964 Buttolph 53513,163,110 12/1964 Thompson l0l247 3,238,691 3/1966 Miller et al 53-51 XEUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. PAUL V. WILLIAMS, AssistantExaminer.

